Yemeni Rial

The Yemeni rial is the official currency of Yemen. It is subdivided into 100 fils. The rial has been the currency of Yemen since the late 19th century. It replaced the Maria Theresa thaler, which was the currency of the Ottoman Empire in what is now Yemen. The rial is currently pegged to the dollar at a rate of 250 rials to 1 dollar. The Yemeni rial is not a widely traded currency, but it is legal tender in Yemen and is also accepted in some neighboring countries. The rial is issued by the Central Bank of Yemen. The banknotes feature a portrait of former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh on the obverse and images of Yemeni landmarks on the reverse. The rial is not a strong currency, and it has lost value against the dollar in recent years. This has led to inflation and economic hardship in Yemen. The war in Yemen has also made it difficult to exchange currency.